It's been a few days since I last posted on our Australian activities but that doesn't mean we've been doing nothing.
Actually, we have been working hard on making sure we do as close to nothing as possible; where 'nothing' includes taking short walks to the local coffee bar, spending hours at the beach swimming, body boarding and napping followed by some more serious napping in the apartment later on. We have gotten getting pretty good at the doing nothing thing now.
This picture was taken just before dinner by the Harbour on the way to the Basement club for the Rumours gig where we met up with Nick. The gig was very good indeed - great songs and great musicians - and was made better by the announcement that my best friend Tanya was performing (ask Chuck or Michelle about that).
Since then we've spent more time at the beach, been out for Indian food, visited the Rocks market , spent 30 minutes in the Minus 5 Bar, and enjoyed the sites at the Lowenbrau Bier Kellar. We have also had a few naps - which is where I'm off to right now...
Sunday, December 30, 2007
Thursday, December 27, 2007
The Perfect First Day
1) Helen waiting for us at the airport
2) Breakfast at the Sandbar
3) Shopping at the Warringah Mall
4) Helen's home-cooked dinner
5) Gin & Tonics
6) A night-time walk on the beach
Can it get any better?
2) Breakfast at the Sandbar
3) Shopping at the Warringah Mall
4) Helen's home-cooked dinner
5) Gin & Tonics
6) A night-time walk on the beach
Can it get any better?
Arrived in Sydney
G'Day!
We've arrived in Australia safe and sound after the marathon 14 and a half hour flight from San Francisco. It sounds like a long time, but given that the plane didn't leave until just before 11pm and we had been extremely busy and short of sleep over the past few days all three of us ended up sleeping for nearly 10 hours. That left just enough time to enjoy a couple of pre-dinner aperitifs, some warm nuts, dinner and breakfast before we landed.
Helen was waiting for us when we got through customs and whisked us back to her place and on to the Sandbar for coffee and brunch. Heaven!
We'll be updating the site over the course of the trip so keep your eyes peeled...
We've arrived in Australia safe and sound after the marathon 14 and a half hour flight from San Francisco. It sounds like a long time, but given that the plane didn't leave until just before 11pm and we had been extremely busy and short of sleep over the past few days all three of us ended up sleeping for nearly 10 hours. That left just enough time to enjoy a couple of pre-dinner aperitifs, some warm nuts, dinner and breakfast before we landed.
Helen was waiting for us when we got through customs and whisked us back to her place and on to the Sandbar for coffee and brunch. Heaven!
We'll be updating the site over the course of the trip so keep your eyes peeled...
Tuesday, December 25, 2007
Merry Xmas
Wishing you a very Merry Xmas and a fantastic New Year from all of us here at UlloaSullivan.com - that's Michelle and I and the two cats.
We wish we could hang around and spend more time with you all over the remainder of the Holiday season but unfortunately we have to fly off to Australia today for a couple of weeks. The Southern Hemisphere Summer is calling us and we're just not strong enough to say 'No'. That and Helen's promised to make us her famous Tomato Chutney.
We'll do our best to update the site with messages from DownUnder so watch this space.
Adios!
We wish we could hang around and spend more time with you all over the remainder of the Holiday season but unfortunately we have to fly off to Australia today for a couple of weeks. The Southern Hemisphere Summer is calling us and we're just not strong enough to say 'No'. That and Helen's promised to make us her famous Tomato Chutney.
We'll do our best to update the site with messages from DownUnder so watch this space.
Adios!
Monday, December 24, 2007
Who's Sleeping in my Bed?
It is indeed a nice warm feeling when relatives take your phobias and insecurities seriously and help shield you from encounters that might scare or worry you, or otherwise lead to nightmares.
I only wish I had such relatives.
I only wish I had such relatives.
Saturday, December 22, 2007
Glamorous Life
Check out the video here for Sheila E. and friend's performance on The Next Great American Band last night. Watch out for some cool drumstick activity right at the end. Xmas Lights - An update
As predicted, we weren't finished with our Carnival of Lights and Michelle came home from a shopping trip yesterday with a few extra bits and pieces to add to the presentation. Note the pile of gifts and the white Xmas tree in the foreground.
We are now running out of time and have pledged not to go shopping again this year so hopefully we are finished. Notwithstanding the need to up our game should one of our neighbors actually realize there is a competition going on.
More picks up at the Flickr site.
Note to the Eco-conscious among you - go plant a tree to offset us. :)
We are now running out of time and have pledged not to go shopping again this year so hopefully we are finished. Notwithstanding the need to up our game should one of our neighbors actually realize there is a competition going on.
More picks up at the Flickr site.
Note to the Eco-conscious among you - go plant a tree to offset us. :)
Tuesday, December 18, 2007
The Golden Compass - This Friday Afternoon
I've been busted. I admit I went and saw the movie while in the UK during a couple of hours when I found myself needing something to distract me from the stresses of endless corporate entertainment. I found myself in a large Cinema on the corner of Edgeware Road and Oxford Street with just a strange older lady with lots of bags and 3 German school kids watching it early one afternoon.
So, for those of you who are interested (see www.meleena.com) let's go and see it at the 4:30pm showing in Dinuba on Friday afternoon.
See you there!
So, for those of you who are interested (see www.meleena.com) let's go and see it at the 4:30pm showing in Dinuba on Friday afternoon.
See you there!
It's that time of year...
... when Michelle watches and waits for the perfect time to unveil this year's Xmas light design.
You see, Xmas lights are not something to be done in a hurry and without forethought or consideration of what the neighbors have done. Oh no! They require a lot planning and monitoring of what else is happening up and down the street, watching for the pre-Xmas discounts on luminated penguins and giant inflatable snowmen and finding the right time to rope me and any passing nephews or nieces (Meleena this year) to provide that final finishing touch to elevate our decorations above the woeful displays at the houses that can be seen from our front garden.
While it might be the season to be jolly, it is also the season to not let your guard down, remain competitive in an ever-changing environment, and demonstrate your supremacy in the Xmas decoration department.
Look for some more pics over the Flickr site...
You see, Xmas lights are not something to be done in a hurry and without forethought or consideration of what the neighbors have done. Oh no! They require a lot planning and monitoring of what else is happening up and down the street, watching for the pre-Xmas discounts on luminated penguins and giant inflatable snowmen and finding the right time to rope me and any passing nephews or nieces (Meleena this year) to provide that final finishing touch to elevate our decorations above the woeful displays at the houses that can be seen from our front garden.
While it might be the season to be jolly, it is also the season to not let your guard down, remain competitive in an ever-changing environment, and demonstrate your supremacy in the Xmas decoration department.
Look for some more pics over the Flickr site...
Thursday, December 13, 2007
NetSuite Nutcrackers
Each Holiday season the building management company for the NetSuite office in San Mateo deck out the entrance lobby with festive decorations.
Every year, they place the Nutcrackers shown in the picture either side of the elevators as if the are acting as sentries guarding access to the NetSuite office.
And every year I have to admit that I look over my shoulder once I've walked past them just to make sure that they haven't sprung to life and aren't chasing me and gnashing their exposed teeth.
Yes, I admit it. They scare me!
Every year, they place the Nutcrackers shown in the picture either side of the elevators as if the are acting as sentries guarding access to the NetSuite office.
And every year I have to admit that I look over my shoulder once I've walked past them just to make sure that they haven't sprung to life and aren't chasing me and gnashing their exposed teeth.
Yes, I admit it. They scare me!
The Last English Breakfast
Here is a picture of the breakfast I ate in the Virgin Clubhouse before leaving Heathrow airport and the UK for the last time this year. Feeling health conscious I ordered a poached egg (rather than fried or scrambled) but chose real butter over margarine not for health reasons but simply because it tastes better.
Just in case you can't see clearly enough, here's what was included:
1 poached egg
1 large mushroom
1 sausage
1 rasher of streaky bacon
1 rasher of back bacon
1 grilled tomato
1 slide of white toast with butter
1 pot of English breakfast tea
Lovely!
Just in case you can't see clearly enough, here's what was included:
1 poached egg
1 large mushroom
1 sausage
1 rasher of streaky bacon
1 rasher of back bacon
1 grilled tomato
1 slide of white toast with butter
1 pot of English breakfast tea
Lovely!
Van Hunt
I went to see Van Hunt at the Jazz Cafe in London on Monday night with a couple of guys from the NetSuite office in the UK. It was a great gig - great musicianship, good songs, multiple uses of the word 'ridiculous' - and I'm glad I was able to get to see him.
But, perhaps even more fun was the game we played (after passing the location of the former London Zoo) wherein we inserted the names of animals into our conversation for as long as possible. It might not sound that funny but believe me we had a blast with it. Some examples for you: "From 'Heron' out", "Quit 'Monkeying' around", "'Lemming' see what I can do", etc.
Apologies for the poor quality of this picture - however, it you squint at it it gets better/looks more like Prince.
But, perhaps even more fun was the game we played (after passing the location of the former London Zoo) wherein we inserted the names of animals into our conversation for as long as possible. It might not sound that funny but believe me we had a blast with it. Some examples for you: "From 'Heron' out", "Quit 'Monkeying' around", "'Lemming' see what I can do", etc.
Apologies for the poor quality of this picture - however, it you squint at it it gets better/looks more like Prince.
Sunday, December 9, 2007
An Early Xmas Dinner
We enjoyed an enormous Xmas Dinner today at Mum and Dad's house in Bicester. Neil, Maya and Toby and Paul, Steph, Reece and Ellie stopped over in an attempt to eat all the roast potatos and parsnips. Fortunately Mum made enough to ensure that there were plenty for us all, thwarting their diabolical plans.
Toby, in between eating and having a nap, demonstrated his new-found ability to sit up by himself for a short will and screach like a Raptor from Jurassic Park (his new communication skill).
As is traditional after Xmas dinner, there was much sitting around and complaining about how much we'd eaten but no shortage of room when dessert was served.
Merry Xmas Sullivan Family - I had a great time!
Toby, in between eating and having a nap, demonstrated his new-found ability to sit up by himself for a short will and screach like a Raptor from Jurassic Park (his new communication skill).
As is traditional after Xmas dinner, there was much sitting around and complaining about how much we'd eaten but no shortage of room when dessert was served.
Merry Xmas Sullivan Family - I had a great time!
I wish I was Santa
Clearly it's not all hard work in the Claus household. Not if he finds time to rehearse and perform dance routines with cute Elf-girls in shopping malls in Vegas.
More from the MOAB
It appears that the teaser picture from MOAB that I posted last week hasn't sated the appetites of those who wanted to know what else happened in Vegas. So, I thought I would share this picture, portraying a recurring scene from throughout the weekend, with you.
To be fair, there was a good amount of luck to be had during MOAB with Rita, Lizz, Letty, Chuck and Michelle all making some money on the machines early on.
Saturday night saw us attending the Penn & Teller show at the Rio - truly amazing - and then having dinner through til midnight whereupon we all toasted the arrival of M's birthday.
MOAB was a resounding success - I'm looking forward to the sequel.
To be fair, there was a good amount of luck to be had during MOAB with Rita, Lizz, Letty, Chuck and Michelle all making some money on the machines early on.
Saturday night saw us attending the Penn & Teller show at the Rio - truly amazing - and then having dinner through til midnight whereupon we all toasted the arrival of M's birthday.
MOAB was a resounding success - I'm looking forward to the sequel.
Sunday, December 2, 2007
What do you think of MOAB so far?
We've just got back from Vegas and working on recuperation after a whirlwind weekend of partying.
Everyone arrived at the Rio Hotel pretty much spot-on 8pm and quickly freshened up, put on their party blouses, and headed down to the waiting Limo whereupon we cracked open a couple of bottles of wine and headed downtown to the Fremont Street Experience to watch the light show. From there we cruised the strip to show the Newbies some of the sites and headed to the South Point Casino Resort for the Purple Reign show. Boy, what a party we had there! Everyone (even Rita -ask her about the 'Birthday Card') spent time on the dance floor - some of us more than others and we could certainly feel it the next morning.
I'll be uploading some more photos to the Flickr site shortly, but will set them to Private so if you weren't there and want to see the pictures you'll have to login. Let me know if you need me to re-send the invite.
Everyone arrived at the Rio Hotel pretty much spot-on 8pm and quickly freshened up, put on their party blouses, and headed down to the waiting Limo whereupon we cracked open a couple of bottles of wine and headed downtown to the Fremont Street Experience to watch the light show. From there we cruised the strip to show the Newbies some of the sites and headed to the South Point Casino Resort for the Purple Reign show. Boy, what a party we had there! Everyone (even Rita -ask her about the 'Birthday Card') spent time on the dance floor - some of us more than others and we could certainly feel it the next morning.
I'll be uploading some more photos to the Flickr site shortly, but will set them to Private so if you weren't there and want to see the pictures you'll have to login. Let me know if you need me to re-send the invite.
Saturday, December 1, 2007
Happy 60th Birthday Mum
Congratulations on reaching another great milestone in your 60th Birthday. Many Happy Returns from everyone here in California - hope you have a great day!
Love,
Craig, Michelle, Cornflake and Miko
Love,
Craig, Michelle, Cornflake and Miko